The Company recognized a net loss of $34.2 million ($1.03 per share) in the third quarter of 2018 compared with net income of $8.3 million ($0.25 per share) in the third quarter of 2017. Results for the third quarter of 2018 included a goodwill impairment loss for the Personal Care component of PE Films ($38.2 million after taxes or $1.15 per share). Net income from ongoing operations, which excludes special items, was $8.6 million ($0.26 per share) in the third quarter of 2018 compared with $9.4 million ($0.28 per share) in the third quarter of 2017. A reconciliation of net income (loss), a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to net income from ongoing operations, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, is provided in Note (a) of the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release.

Third Quarter Financial Results Highlights

John Gottwald, Tredegar’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Tredegar has provided disclosures over the past three years related to significant risks of lost business in the Personal Care and Surface Protection business units of our PE Films segment, and both of these exposures have become clearer this quarter. We anticipate pre-tax operating profit in 2019 to be impacted by $21 million or more. Furthermore, Personal Care’s goodwill of $47 million has been written off. Both business units have increased R&D and capital spending to develop new customers and products. It is premature to forecast the impact of these efforts.”

OPERATIONS REVIEW

PE Films

PE Films is composed of personal care materials, surface protection films, polyethylene overwrap films and films for other markets. A summary of third-quarter and year-to-date operating results from ongoing operations for PE Films, which does not include the goodwill impairment discussed in the Customer Product Transitions in Personal Care and Surface Protection section, is provided below:

Third-Quarter 2018 Results vs. Third-Quarter 2017 Results

Net sales (sales less freight) in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by $13.3 million versus 2017 primarily due to lower volume in Personal Care and Surface Protection. The volume decline in Personal Care was primarily related to lower demand for topsheet. Volume for elastics and acquisition distribution layer materials increased year-over-year.

Net sales in Surface Protection declined in the third quarter of 2018 versus 2017 (which had particularly strong sales) primarily due to lower volume that the Company believes was due to customer inventory corrections and the previously disclosed customer product transitions to alternative processes or materials, as further discussed in the Customer Product Transitions in Personal Care and Surface Protection section.

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by $7.1 million versus the third quarter of 2017 primarily due to:

In June 2018, the Company announced plans to close its facility in Shanghai, China, which primarily produces topsheet films used as components for personal care products. Production is expected to cease at this plant during the fourth quarter of 2018, and net annual cash savings from consolidating operations is projected at $1.7 million. Additional information on costs associated with exit and disposal activities (currently estimated at $7.1 million) and other details are available in Note (b) in the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release and in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 (“Form 10-Q”).

Customer Product Transitions in Personal Care and Surface Protection

During October 2018, the Personal Care component of PE Films completed negotiations with its customer regarding a previously disclosed significant product transition. The total annual sales that will be adversely impacted by this product transition is approximately $70 million. During 2019, the Company expects sales for the product of $30 to $35 million with the potential for no sales thereafter. Any actions that the Company takes to reduce fixed costs to partially mitigate the decline in variable contribution that will accompany the decline in sales will depend on the level of success that Personal Care has with replacing the lost business with new products. The adverse operating profit impact of the estimated $35 to $40 million decline in sales in 2019 is not clear, although the Company believes that it will be in excess of $10 million.

Personal Care has increased its R&D spending, reaching an amount in 2017 approximately $5 million higher than in 2014. R&D spending in 2018 is expected to be at approximately the same level as 2017. Personal Care is also investing capital and is accelerating sales and marketing efforts to capture growth and diversify its customer base and product offerings in personal care products.

Because of the significance of the customer transition discussed above, the Company performed a goodwill impairment analysis of the Personal Care component of PE Films using projections under various business planning scenarios. The impairment analysis concluded that the value of Personal Care was less than the carrying value of underlying working capital and long-lived net assets. Accordingly, the goodwill associated with Personal Care of $47 million ($38.2 million after deferred income tax benefits) was written off during the third quarter of 2018.

The Surface Protection component of PE Films supports manufacturers of optical and other specialty substrates used in flat panel display products. These films are primarily used by customers to protect components of displays in the manufacturing and transportation process and then discarded.

The Company previously reported the risk that a portion of its film used in surface protection applications will be made obsolete by possible future customer product transitions to less costly alternative processes or materials. The Company anticipates that the customer product transitions will be fully implemented by the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company estimates that the adverse operating profit impact of surface protection transitions in the third quarter of 2018 was $0.3 million. When fully implemented, the Company estimates that the annualized adverse impact on future operating profit from this customer shift will be approximately $11 million. The Company is aggressively pursuing new surface protection products, applications and customers.

Year-To-Date 2018 Results vs. Year-To-Date 2017 Results

Net sales in the first nine months of 2018 decreased by $13.6 million versus 2017 primarily due to lower topsheet volume in Personal Care and lower volume in Surface Protection in the third quarter.

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2018 decreased by $4.1 million versus the first nine months of 2017 primarily due to:

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in PE Films were $13.5 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $12.9 million in the first nine months of 2017. Capital expenditures are projected to be $26 million in 2018, including: $15 million of a total $25 million expected for North American capacity expansion for elastics products in Personal Care; new capacity for next generation products in Surface Protection ($3 million); and approximately $8 million for routine capital expenditures required to support operations. Depreciation expense was $11.7 million in the first nine months of 2018 and $10.7 million in the first nine months of 2017. Depreciation expense is projected to be $16 million in 2018.

Flexible Packaging Films

Flexible Packaging Films, which is also referred to as Terphane, produces polyester-based films for use in packaging applications that have specialized properties, such as heat resistance, strength, barrier protection and the ability to accept high-quality print graphics. A summary of third quarter and year-to-date operating results from ongoing operations for Flexible Packaging Films is provided below:

Third-Quarter 2018 Results vs. Third-Quarter 2017 Results

Net sales increased in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter of 2017 due to higher shipments resulting from improved demand and increased selling prices associated with the pass-through of higher resin costs. The higher sales volume was associated with increased production capacity for Terphane’s Brazilian operations resulting from the re-start of a previously idled production line in mid-June 2018.

Terphane’s operating results from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2018 increased by $4.7 million versus the third quarter of 2017 primarily due to:

Terphane’s quarterly financial results have been volatile, and the Company expects continued uncertainty and volatility until industry capacity utilization and the competitive dynamics in Latin America improve.

Year-To-Date 2018 Results vs. Year-To-Date 2017 Results

Net sales and volume increased in the first nine months of 2018 compared with the first nine months of 2017 due to higher demand and increased production capacity resulting from the re-start of a previously idled production line in the second quarter of 2018.

Terphane’s operating results from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2018 increased by $10.0 million versus the first nine months of 2017 primarily due to:

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in Terphane were $2.3 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $2.3 million in the first nine months of 2017. Terphane currently estimates that total capital expenditures in 2018 will be $5 million, including approximately $1 million to re-start the idled production line referenced above and $4 million for routine capital expenditures required to support operations. Depreciation expense was $0.6 million in the first nine months of 2018 and $5.5 million in the first nine months of 2017. Depreciation expense is projected to be $1.0 million in 2018. Amortization expense was $0.3 million in the first nine months of 2018 and $2.2 million in the first nine months of 2017, and is projected to be $0.5 million in 2018. Aggregate depreciation and amortization expense is projected at $1.5 million in 2018, down significantly from $10.5 million in 2017 due to the write-down of Terphane’s long-lived assets during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions, which includes Bonnell Aluminum and its operating divisions, AACOA and Futura, produces high-quality, soft-alloy and medium-strength aluminum extrusions primarily for the following markets: building and construction, automotive, and specialty, which consists of consumer durables, machinery and equipment, electrical and distribution end-use products.

A summary of third-quarter and year-to-date results from ongoing operations for Aluminum Extrusions is provided below:

Third-Quarter 2018 Results vs. Third-Quarter 2017 Results

Net sales in the third quarter of 2018 increased versus 2017 primarily due to an increase in average selling prices from the pass-through to customers of higher market-driven raw material costs and higher sales volume.

Sales volume in the third quarter of 2018 increased by 8.9% versus 2017 due to higher volume in all of Bonnell’s primary markets. Higher average net selling prices, primarily attributed to an increase in aluminum market prices, had a favorable impact on net sales of $14.7 million, and higher volume improved net sales by $10.9 million. Bonnell Aluminum’s average capacity utilization was in excess of 90% due to the increased demand. Bookings and backlog remain strong.

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by $0.9 million in comparison to the third quarter of 2017, as higher sales volume ($0.9 million), favorable mix ($1.3 million) and lower healthcare costs ($0.8 million) were more than offset by additional operating costs, including employee-related expenses ($1.1 million), higher supplies and dies ($1.6 million), and higher freight ($0.6 million). These higher operating costs were also partially the result of continued inefficiencies at Bonnell’s Niles, Michigan facility.

On March 8, 2018, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 10% on aluminum ingot and semi-finished aluminum imported into the U.S. from certain countries, including countries from which Bonnell Aluminum has historically sourced aluminum supplies. On April 6, 2018, the U.S. announced sanctions on certain Russian individuals and on companies controlled by those individuals, including United Company RUSAL Plc, Russia’s largest aluminum producer and a substantial supplier of primary aluminum to the U.S. market. Collectively, these events have resulted in a significant increase in the cost of aluminum ingot used by Bonnell Aluminum to make its products. The average U.S. Midwest Transaction price, the benchmark price for P1020 high-grade aluminum ingot delivered, averaged $1.14 per pound in the third quarter of 2018, up $0.15 from $0.99 per pound in the third quarter of 2017. This price peaked at $1.35 per pound on certain days in the second quarter of 2018. In 2017, aluminum raw materials comprised 43% of Bonnell Aluminum’s average selling price when the U.S. Midwest Transaction price averaged $0.98 per pound. For the vast majority of its business, Bonnell Aluminum expects to be able to pass through higher aluminum costs to customers. However, sustained higher costs for aluminum extrusions could result in reduced demand and product substitutions in place of aluminum extrusions, which could materially and negatively affect Bonnell Aluminum’s business and results of operations. In addition, continued sanctions on RUSAL Plc could result in aluminum billet supply shortages in the U.S. aluminum extrusion market, although Bonnell does not currently anticipate any impact of such potential shortages on its access to aluminum.

Year-To-Date 2018 Results vs. Year-To-Date 2017 Results

Net sales in the first nine months of 2018 increased versus 2017 primarily due to the addition of Futura and higher volume. Futura contributed $74.5 million of net sales in the first nine months of 2018 versus $49.8 million for the 7½ months owned during the first nine months of 2017 (acquired on February 15, 2017). Excluding the impact of Futura, the increase in net sales was the result of higher sales volume ($14.5 million) and an increase in average selling prices primarily due to the pass-through to customers of higher market-driven raw material costs and improved mix ($36.3 million).

Volume on an organic basis (which excludes the impact of the Futura acquisition) in the first nine months of 2018 increased by 4.9% versus 2017 due to higher volume in all of Bonnell’s primary markets.

Operating profit from ongoing operations in the first nine months of 2018 increased by $1.0 million in comparison to the first nine months of 2017. Excluding the favorable profit impact of Futura ($1.5 million), operating profit from ongoing operations decreased $0.5 million, primarily due to:

Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization

Capital expenditures in Bonnell Aluminum were $8.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 (including $2.4 million associated with Futura), compared to $21.9 million in the first nine months of 2017. Capital expenditures in 2017 included the extrusions capacity expansion project at the facility in Niles, Michigan. Capital expenditures are projected to be $15 million in 2018, including approximately $7 million for infrastructure upgrades and expanded fabrication and machining capabilities, and approximately $8 million for routine items required to support operations. Depreciation expense was $9.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $8.7 million in the first nine months of 2017, and is projected to be $13 million in 2018. Amortization expense was $2.7 million in the first nine months of 2018 and $2.2 million in the first nine months of 2017, and is projected to be $4 million in 2018.

Corporate Expenses, Interest, Taxes & Other

Pension expense was $7.8 million in the first nine months of 2018, versus $7.6 million in the first nine months of 2017. The impact on earnings from pension expense is reflected in “Corporate expenses, net” in the Net Sales and Operating Profit by Segment table. Pension expense is projected to be $10.4 million in 2018. Corporate expenses, net, increased in the first nine months of 2018 versus 2017 primarily due to higher stock-based employee benefit costs and professional fees for services rendered early in the first quarter of 2018 associated with the Terphane non-cash asset impairment loss that was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Interest expense was $4.5 million in the first nine months of 2018 in comparison to $4.6 million in the first nine months of 2017, primarily due to higher interest rates offset by lower average debt levels.

The effective tax rate used to compute income tax expense from continuing operations was 172.1% in the first nine months of 2018, compared to 14.7% in the first nine months of 2017. The effective tax rate from ongoing operations comparable to the earnings reconciliation table provided in Note (a) of the Notes to Financial Tables in this press release was 22.4% for the first nine months of 2018 versus 37.2% in 2017 (see also Note (g) of the Notes to Financial Tables). The effective tax rates benefited from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017, which, among other impacts, reduced the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018. An explanation of additional significant differences between the effective tax rate for income from continuing operations and the U.S. federal statutory rate for 2018 and 2017 will be provided in the Form 10-Q.

Tredegar’s approximately 20% ownership in kaleo, Inc. (“kaléo”), which is accounted for under the fair value method, was estimated at a value of $65.9 million at September 30, 2018, versus $54 million at December 31, 2017 and $68 million at June 30, 2018. The changes in the estimated fair value of the Company’s investment in kaléo, which are included in net income (loss) under GAAP, have consistently been excluded from net income from ongoing operations as shown in the reconciliation table in Note (a) of the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release. Kaléo’s stock is not publicly traded. The Company’s valuation estimate is based on projection assumptions that have a wide range of possible outcomes. Ultimately, the true value of Tredegar’s ownership interest in kaléo will be determined if and when a liquidity event occurs.

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Total debt was $91.0 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $152.0 million at December 31, 2017. Net debt (debt in excess of cash and cash equivalents) was $54.2 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $115.5 million at December 31, 2017. The decline in net debt includes the impact of U.S. federal income tax refunds received in the first nine months of 2018 of approximately $26 million. Net debt is a financial measure that is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. See Note (f) of the Notes to the Financial Tables in this press release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

FORWARD-LOOKING AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Some of the information contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When we use the words “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “likely,” “may” and similar expressions, we do so to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our then current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. It is possible that our actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation, the following:

and the other factors discussed in the reports Tredegar files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including the risks and important factors set forth in additional detail in Part I, Item 1A of Tredegar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Readers are urged to review and consider carefully the disclosures Tredegar makes in its filings with the SEC.

Tredegar does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any duty, to update any forward-looking statement made in this press release to reflect any change in management’s expectations or any change in conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which such statements are based, except as required by applicable law.

To the extent that the financial information portion of this press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, it also presents both the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and a quantitative reconciliation of the difference between any such non-GAAP measures and such comparable GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the Notes to the Financial Tables included with this press release and can also be found within “Presentations” in the “Investors” section of our website, www.tredegar.com.

Tredegar uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial information and other material information regarding Tredegar is posted on and assembled in the “Investors” section of its website.

Tredegar Corporation is a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions. A global company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Tredegar had 2017 sales of $961 million. With approximately 3,200 employees, the company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Plant shutdowns, asset impairments, restructurings and other items in the third quarter of 2018 include:

Plant shutdowns, asset impairments, restructurings and other items in the first nine months of 2018 include:

Plant shutdowns, asset impairments, restructurings and other items in the third quarter of 2017 include:

Plant shutdowns, asset impairments, restructurings and other items in the first nine months of 2017 include:

Net debt is not intended to represent total debt as defined by GAAP. Net debt is utilized by management in evaluating the Company’s financial leverage and equity valuation, and management believes that investors also may find net debt to be helpful for the same purposes.

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